President Farnam Jahanian speaking with two students.
President Farnam Jahanian gives a speech.

Leadership

Key Academic and Administrative Leaders

Carnegie Mellon University is led by a Board of Trustees, with its day-to-day operations and academic decisions falling under the direction of the President, Provost, Senior Administration and Deans.

President Farnam Jahanian smiling at a podium

The President

As Carnegie Mellon's 10th president, Farnam Jahanian guides the university's strategic vision and priorities.

Provost Jim Garrett smiling at a podium

The Provost

As provost and chief academic officer, James H. Garrett Jr. oversees CMU's schools, colleges, institutes and campuses. 

Senior Leaders

CMU's leaders seek to evolve and advance the university's mission through expert governance, operations and academics. Learn more when you review the Leadership Organizational Chart [PDF]

Board of Trustees

As CMU's governing body, the Board of Trustees bears ultimate responsibility for the university, its policies, organization, financing and governance. 

Senior Administrators

Senior administrators serve to support CMU's strategic growth and priorities across a number of fronts, such as teaching, research, student affairs and more.

Deans

CMU's deans are leading academics, researchers and experts who are also passionate about teaching and learning. Each academic dean represents a single school or college and works to create and promote innovative educational and research opportunities for their students, faculty and staff.

Leadership Structure

The university's organizational structure is designed to foster cooperation, agility and resilience. CMU leaders work within this structure to advance and promote the highest standards of academic excellence, research innovation and creative exploration. 

The Board of Trustees serve as CMU's highest governing body. This board appoints the university's president, sets the institution's strategic priorities and guides its long-term growth.

The president acts on behalf of the Board of Trustees to represent Carnegie Mellon University and its interests both domestically and internationally. The president works in close collaboration with the Board and the university community to appoint the provost and chief academic officer and other senior administrators

The provost's diverse set of responsibilities include promoting the university's commitment to academic excellence, supporting faculty advancement and setting budgetary priorities for CMU's schools and colleges. To realize these priorities, the provost works regularly and directly with the university's president, senior administrators and deans.

View CMU's Leadership Organizational Chart

Campus tree lined path

About Carnegie Mellon

Don’t Envision the Future, Invent It Every Day

At Carnegie Mellon University, academic and research excellence isn't just what we strive for — it's the uncompromising standard. Our entrepreneurial spirit means no pursuit is too complex, and no question is too unconventional to explore.

Whether pioneering groundbreaking brain research, creating visionary art that challenges perspectives or developing next-generation technologies like self-driving cars, we go all in on big ideas that move the world forward. See how we transform bold ideas into extraordinary impact that changes everything.

CMU Stands Apart

# 1

Business Analytics Graduate Program

U.S. News & World Report

Learn more about the Business Analytics Graduate Program

# 1

Artificial Intelligence Program

U.S. News & World Report

Learn more about the Artificial Intelligence Program

# 4

World’s Top Drama School

The Hollywood Reporter

Learn more about the School of Drama

Who We Are and What We Do

CMU fosters a community of fearless trailblazers united by a shared passion for innovation and excellence. Learn about our strategic partnerships and global presence.

Vision, Mission and Values

Explore CMU’s key initiatives and values, from our strategic plan to diversity. Learn more about our history and what makes us SO CMU.

Leadership

Meet our Board of Trustees, president, senior administration members and deans.

Our Regional Impact

Explore our partnerships with Pittsburgh and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to create lasting economic and community change.

CMU Locations

Carnegie Mellon is a university without borders, with campuses in Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley, Qatar and Africa. Our collaborative efforts empower researchers in solving global issues.

CMU Population by the Numbers

16,582 +

students representing 132+ countries

1,615 +

faculty representing 63+ countries

127,691 +

alumni representing 150+ countries

The Latest at CMU

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Research That Moves the World Forward

Featured News

Three people in military attire and a civilian examine a small wheeled robot in an industrial setting. They appear focused and engaged in discussion.

CMU and Our Nation’s Military: A Unique and Historic Partnership

For more than a century, Carnegie Mellon University has partnered with the U.S. military to advance innovation, education and workforce readiness. From wartime training to today’s leadership in AI, robotics and data science, CMU continues to help develop the talent and technologies needed to meet evolving national security challenges.

Sridhar Tayur speaking with a microphone in front of a group

Faculty Who Are Leaders in Their Fields

Quantum is not competing against machine learning. Quantum is simply an alternative to digital computing... Just like a fighter jet is not a faster Ferrari because it works on a different principle... Quantum computing is not faster digital computing. It actually works on a different physics principle entirely.

Sridhar Tayur
Ford Distinguished Research Chair and University Professor of Operations Management

+ Faculty

Our professors bring their expertise to classrooms and labs, mentoring students and advancing research across disciplines.

+ Members

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians serve as distinguished faculty in our School of Music to inspire the next generation of talent.

Nobel Prizes

Our faculty and alumni have received this prestigious award, widely recognized as one of the highest honors an individual can receive, in 5 of the 6 possible categories.

The Birthplace of AI

Carnegie Mellon University has been at the forefront of artificial intelligence since its early days, helping to shape the field through bold ideas, pioneering research and visionary leadership. From founding key institutions to launching entirely new areas of study, CMU has played a central role in advancing computing and AI. Today, our work continues to drive innovation and make a lasting impact across industries and society.

Learn more about AI at CMU

Herbert Simon and Allen Newell in a discussion at a desk

First Artificial Intelligence Program

Herbert Simon and Allen Newell create Logic Theorist, a computer program that could solve logic puzzles in the same way a human might in a game of chess.

Terregator at 3 different angles outside on CMU's campus

Terregator

Terregator pioneered exploration, road following and mine mapping. It was the world’s first rugged, capable, autonomous outdoor navigation robot.

snippet of speech recognition code

First Language Recognition System

Kai-Fu Lee, Raj Reddy and Roberto Bisiani create SPHINX, the first real-time recognition of speech to programming with AI techniques.

PhD student adjusting a dual arm manipulator robot

First Robotics PhD Program

The world’s first doctoral program in robotics is offered at CMU.

Navlab 5 outside on campus

First Self-Navigating Automobile

Scientist Dean Pomerleau and Ph.D. student Todd Jochem’s Navlab 5 drives from Pittsburgh to San Diego, the longest continuous test of an autonomous vehicle in a real-world setting.

Student on VR driving simulator

First Machine Learning Department

Considered the world’s first machine learning academic department.

BOSS self-driving vehicle

First Self-Driving Vehicles 

CMU’s and General Motors self-driving SUV “BOSS” wins the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, a driverless car competition.

Three students looking at a robot and smiling

First AI Undergraduate Major

The first offered by a U.S. university in response to extraordinary technical breakthroughs in AI and the growing demand by students and employers.

A group of three people in a workshop setting work with wires, meters and circuit components on a wooden table.

First AI Engineering Degree

CMU announces a new first-of-its-kind Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Engineering degree, combining AI and machine learning with engineering domain knowledge.

Academics at CMU

Academics at CMU connects classroom learning with cutting-edge research and world-renowned faculty to shape the world’s brightest minds. Students collaborate across disciplines to drive progress in technology, policy, the arts and beyond.

Shagun Maheshwari headshot

What I love most about the College of Engineering is that everyone you meet carries a genuine passion for making the world a better place.

Shagun Maheshwari
Materials Science Engineering Graduate, Class of 2025
Lameck Beni, a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon Univeristy, and Rales Fellow

At the end of the day, I want to be someone who is helping people in a way that has the broadest impact possible.

Lameck Beni
Graduate Student and Rales Fellow
From left: Elizabeth Knox, Alexandra Knox and Roy Huang at the front of the CMU Pipes and Drums band at Spring Carnival opening on April 7, 2022. 

Before hearing about CMU, I didn't think it was possible to pursue and thrive in such unrelated fields together. I've learned to use my concentrations to help one another succeed.

Roy Huang
Recent BXA Graduate